Wheeled vehicular toy



Flc-3.5 I l F163 M Oct. 24, 1961 A, GlRz 3,005,285

WHEELED VEHICULAR TY Filed NOV. 4, 1958 v Fls nited htates Pate-nt 3,005,285 WHEELED VEHlCULAR TOY Alexander Girz, Nurnberg, Germany, assignor to Schreyer & Co., Nurnberg, Germany, a German corporation Filed Nov. 4, 1958, Ser. No. 771,837 4 Claims. (Cl. i6-201) My invention relates to small vehicular toys simulating an automobile or other conveyance, preferably a racing car, which are placed in motion manually to continue traveling by coasting under the momentum of its own mass. Such toys are not provided with a spring-actuated or other drive motor.

The known vehicular toys of this type have a hollow, downwardly open body or shell made of zinc, lead or other heavy material by casting or die casting, the eX- terior of this body simulating the appearance of the prototype. The wheel axles are journalled in eye members which protrude pairwise from the injection-molded hollow body at the front and rear and which terminate downwardly in form of slots. The axles, carrying the running wheels, are placed into the slots and the ends of the eye members are then bent together so that the axles cannot drop out. This conventional bending together of the ends of the eye material may result in subjecting the wheel axles to considerablefriction which tends to cause freezing of the axles or to limit the travel distance. The known toys are also apt to depart from the desired traveling direction when encountering an irregularity in the travel path.

It is an `object of my invention to improve toys of the above-mentioned type so that they will travel a greater distance once they are accelerated by pushing and will have a reduced tendency to depart from a straight travel path. Another object of my invention is to simplify and improve the mounting of the wheel axles for facilitating manufacture and minimizing the danger of impeding the most favorable motion of the wheel axles relative to the vehicle body.

To this end, and in accordance with my invention, l provide the toy, preferably a miniature toy in the shape of a vehicle such as a racing car, with a single-piece fullbodied vehicle body consisting of a casting, such as a diecasting, of heavy metal, for example lead or zinc; and I provide the bottom side of the massive casting with transverse grooves of semicircular bottom shape in which the wheel axles are located. I further give the wheel axles a smaller diameter than the grooves to permit pendulous movements of the axle within the groove, the axles being retained within the grooves by means of one or several squeezings or pinched protuberances of the same body material without the aid of any additional holding means.

Such a toy, when being manufactured, can readily be assembled by simply placing the axles, carrying the running wheels, into the respective grooves and thereafter pinching the massive casting of the vehicle body together at one or a few locations in order to secure the wheel sets to the vehicle body while permitting an unhindered rotational as well as pendulous motion of the axles relative to the body.

In order to permit retaining the wheel axles simply by squeezing or pinching certain localities of the massive casting, the above-mentioned transverse grooves are preferably given a U-shaped cross section so that the cross-sectional area is larger than that of a semicircle. As a result, the casting possesses portions adjacent each groove that protrude beyond the axle and can be permanently deformed by pinching to then extend over the groove and the axle contained therein. Preferably, the vehicle body is given additional protuberances which facilitate such pinching.

fiice According to a more specific feature, the ends of the grooves are axially extended on both sides within corresponding projections integral with the casting. These projections can readily be deformed by pinching to obtain the desired fastening. However, the casting may also be provided with projecting, integral portions in the vicinity of the center of the wheel axle so as to form angular members which extend somewhat over the axle. The latter type of fastening improves the desired pendulous mounting of the axles.

In comparison with known vehicular toys in which the vehicle body has transverse grooves in engagement with the respective Wheel axles over substantially the entire length of the grooves, the axle friction in a toy according to the invention is greatly reduced. ln order to further impnove the toy from the just-mentioned viewpoint, and in accordance with another feature of my invention, the journalling grooves for the small wheel axles are shaped so as to have three planar walls extending rectangularly with respect to each other and forming together a rectangular U-shape, these groove surfaces being machined out of the material of the bottom portion of the body. With such a rectangular cross section of the groove, the rotating axle can touch the three surfaces of the U- groove only along three lines so that the bearing friction is reduced.

However, the traveling ability of the massive vehicular toy according to the invention can be further improved, for example for the purpose of promoting simulated races of several such toys, by reducing the journalling of the wheel axles to a point-type engagement. For this purpose, the U-shaped transverse grooves are provided with small ridges consisting of slight protuberances of the body casting. The ridges may extend in transverse relation to the groove and in this case are preferably located near each end of the groove. However, the ridges may also extend longitudinally of each groove. The shape of such transverse or longitudinal ridges is preferably such that the bearing faces formed thereby form together a rectangular cross-sectional shape.

The foregoing and more specific objects, advantages and features of my invention will be apparent from the embodiments of midget-type vehicular toys according to the invention illustrated by way of example on the accompanying drawings in which FIGS. l to 4 relate to one embodiment and FlGS. 5 to 8 to another. More specically:

FIG. 1 is a bottom view of a vehicular toy simulating a racer-automobile.

FIG. 2 is a cross section along the line lI-ll in FlG. l.

FIG. 3 is a cross section along the line llI-lll in FIG. l.

FIG. 4 is a sectional rear view, the section being taken along the line lV-IV in FIG. l.

FG. 5 is a bottom view of the second embodiment, one of the two wheel pairs of the vehicle being removed.

FIG. 6 is a cross section along the line Vl-Vl in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a cross section along the line Vil- Vfl in FIG. 5

FIG. 8 shows a modification of the toy according to FIG. 5 by a cross section corresponding to FIG. 7.

The same reference numerals are used in all illustrations for respectively similar elements.

The automobile toy illustrated in FlGS. l to 4 has a body l consisting of a single full-bodied piece made of a material of relatively high density such as a casting of lead or a die casting of zinc, for example. rlhe bottom side of the massive heavy body is provided with transverse grooves 8 and 9 of U-shaped cross section. The bight portion of the U-shape is semicircular and has a larger diameter than the wheel axles 6 and 7 which pass through the respective grooves, each axle carrying a pair of running wheels. The body 1 has integral projections 2, 3, 4, which form respective extensions of the grooves and cover the protruding ends of the axles seen from above. Prior to assembling the axle-and-wheel sets with the body l, the grooves in the protruding portions 2, 3, d, 5 of the body l have likewise a U-shaped cross section and hence form straight extensions of the grooves so that the axles can readily be placed into the grooves. Thereafter the lower ends of the protruding portions are pinched inwardly, as is shown at 3 and 5 for the protruding portions 3v of body ll illustrated in FIG. 2. Due to the ductility of the material such bending is easily done and results in permanent deformation of the singlepiece casting with the effect that thereafter the axle is retained in the groove but, because of its smaller diameter, is capable or" unimpeded pendulous motion within the groove.

The casting of body l. is further provided with two projections l@ and itt which are located centrally of the groove 3 and, like the above-mentioned projections 2, 3, d and d, are very narrow in comparison with the total length of the groove. The projections in and lil', prior to ,assembling the toy, protrude vertically downward from the bottom of the body l in order to facilitate inserting thev axle. After insertion of the axle the projections are bent into the angular shape apparent from FlG. 3 and then remain deformed.

The deforming is effected essentially by pinching the ends 3 and 3" or the projections lill and l0' together. lt will be noted that in the illustrated embodiments the pinched portions, after deformation, do not fully enclose the axle, it being suiiicient that they merely project from both sides of the axle beyond the axle diameter in order to prevent the axles from inadvertently dropping out of the vehicle body.

In the embodiment of a different-type automobile llustrated in FIGS. 5 to 7 the body l', consisting of a single-piece casting of heavy metal, is provided with transverse grooves 8' and 9 whose laterf'd and bottom walls are straight and extend in rectangular relation to each other so that the cross section of the groove is U-shaped but has a rectangular bight. Each of these straightwalled grooves is provided with straight ridges il near the respective two ends of each groove. These ridges are integral with the casting i', consisting of narrow protuberances of the casting material. Three such ridges are located at the same point so as to form a constricted U- shape together with one another. The ridges are very narrow in comparison with the length of the groove and thus provide essentially a point-contact engagement with the axle which reduces the axle friction in the groove.

According to the modification shown in FIG. 8, the groove 8 is shown to be provided with three longitudinal ridges 12 which are likewise integral with the material of the casting l' and are located in rectangular relation to one another in order to form the bearing-engagement with the axle.

By virtue of the designs described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 8, the wheel axles are permitted pendulous movement within the grooves and are subjected to minimized bearing friction. It will be understood that the axles are retained in the grooves by pinched protuberances of the casting l substantially in the manner explained above with reference to FIGS. l to 4. For example, the two ridges projecting downwardly from the bottom of the body 1 and denoted by 13 and 14 in FIG. 6 may be squeezed toward each other so as to partially cover the groove. However, pinched protuberances similar to those described with reference to FIGS. l to 4 may also be provided.

A midget-type vehicular toy having a single-piece fullbodied structure with pendulously mounted axles as described above, will travel a much longer distance under its own momentum than similar toys heretofore known and having a hollow vehicle body with a large open cavity facing downwardly. The pendulous mounting of the wheel axles relative to the vehicle body greatly increases the roadability of such miniature toys so that, even when slight humps or other irregularities of the road are encountered, undesired changes in travel direction are minimized or eliminated not only because of the relatively great weight of the vehicle but also by Virtue of the possibility that such irregularities may be compensated by the relative motion permitted between the vehicle body and the wheel axles on account of the pendulous mounting. This is particularly desirable in view of the preferred midget size of such vehicular toys which often hardly exceed the size of a match box.

As explained above, the design of the bearing means` for the wheel axles in form of downwardly open, U- shaped grooves in the bottom of the massive vehicle body has the further consequence that the wheel-axle sets can simply be laid into these grooves and can readily be retained, in such a manner as to obtain the desired pendulous journalling. VIf the pinched protuberances of the massive casting that thus retain the axles are located on the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, as is the case with the projections 10 and 10' in FIGS. l and 3, then the desired pendulous mounting of the axles is further improved.

Iclaim:

1. A miniature wheeled vehicular push toy for travelling, upon manual acceleration, by coasting due only to the momentum of its own mass, comprising a full-bodied, single-piece casting of relatively high density material, said body having in the bottom surface thereof downwardly open continuous U-shaped grooves coextensive with said body and extending transversely to the travel direction of said toy, a wheel axle loosely seated within each of said grooves and provided with a pair of' wheels, said axle having a diameter smaller than its co1'- responding groove and less than the width of the bottom` opening of said corresponding groove for free pendulous movement of the axle within its groove relative to said body, the extremities of said grooves forming alternate fulcrums for said pendulous movement of said axle, said body casting forming at each of said grooves at least one protuberance integral with said casting and extending `below said bottom surface, said protuberance having pairs of axle-retaining prongs deformable towardV each other by pinching, each prong pair forming opposed mutually inwardly-directed retaining ends extending beneath said axle for loosely retaining the axle from below within its corresponding groove while leaving clearance for said free pendulous movement of the axle, whereby when one wheel of the vehicular toy passes over an irregularity, the axle of said one wheel can roch within its groove relative to said body, two of said protuberances of said casting being located at the respective axial ends of one of said grooves and projecting outwardly from the main body of said casting toward the respective wheels of the axle passing through said groove, said two protuberances having a shape of deformation extending downwardly and surrounding said axle along a more than semi-circular portion of the periphery.

2. A miniature wheeled vehicular push toy for travelling, upon manual acceleration, by coasting due only to the momentum of its own mass, comprising a full-bodied, single-piece casting of relatively high density material, said body having in the bottom surface thereof downwardly open continuous U-shaped grooves coextensive with said body and extending transversely to the travel direction of said toy, a wheel axle loosely seated within each of said grooves andV provided wtih a pair of wheels, said axle having a diameter` smaller than its corresponding groove and less than the width of the bottom opening of said corresponding groove for free pendulous movement of the axle within its groove relative to said body, the extremities of said grooves forming alternate fulcrums for said pendulous movement of said axle, said body casting forming at each of said grooves at least one protuberance integral with said casting and extending below said bottom surface, said protuberance having pairs of axle-retaining prongs deformable toward each other by pinching, each prong pair forming opposed mutually inwardly-directed retaining ends extending beneatn said axle for loosely retaining the axle from below within its corresponding groove while leaving clearance for said free pendulous movement of the axle, whereby when one wheel of the vehicular toy passes over an irregularity, the axle of said one wheel can rock within its groove relative to said body, each of said grooves cornprising three straight ridges integral with said casting and extending in rectangular relation to each other to jointly define a U-shaped area traversed by said axle, whereby axle friction in said groove is reduced.

3. A miniature wheeled vehicular push toy for travelling, upon manual acceleration, by coasting due only to the momentum of its own mass, comprising a full-bodied, single-piece casting of relatively high density material, said body having in the bottom surface thereof downwardly open continuous U-shaped grooves coextensive with said body and extending transversely to the travel direction of said toy, a wheel axle loosely seated within each of said grooves and provided with a pair of wheels, said axle having a diameter smaller than its corresponding groove and less than the width of the bottom opening of said corresponding groove for free pendulous movement of the axle wtihin its groove relative to said body, the extremities of said grooves forming alternate fulcrurns for said pendulous movement of said axle, said body casting forming at each of said grooves at least one protuberance integral with said casting and extending below said bottom surface, said protuberance having pairs of axle-retaining prongs deformable toward each other by pinching, each prong pair forming opposed mutually inwardly-directed retaining ends extending beneath said axle yfor loosely retaining the axle from below within its corresponding groove while leaving clearance for said free pendulous movement of the axle, whereby when one Wheel of the vehicular toy passes over an irregularity, the axle of said one wheel can rock within its groove relative to said body, said protuberance extending transversely of its corresponding groove and being located near the respective ends of said groove, and said protuberance being axially narrow to substantially provide point contact with said axle.

4. A miniature wheeled vehicular push toy for travelling, upon manual acceleration, by coasting due only to the momentum of its own mass, comprising a full-bodied, single-piece casting of relatively high density material, said body having in the bottom surface thereof downwardly open continuous U-shaped grooves coextensive with said body and extending transversely to the travel direction of said toy, a wheel axle loosely seated within each of said grooves and provided with a pair of wheels, said axle having a diameter smaller than :its corresponding groove and less than the width of the bottom opening of said corresponding groove for free pendulous movement of the axle within its groove relative to said body, the extremities of said grooves forming alternate fulcrums for said pendulous movement of said axle, said body casting forming at each of said grooves at least one protuberance integral with said casting and extending below said bottom surface, said protuberance having pairs of axle-retaining prongs deformable toward each other by pinching, each prong pair forming opposed mutually inwardly-directed retaining ends extending beneath said axle for loosely retaining the axle from below within its corresponding groove while leaving clearance for said free pendulous movement of the axle, whereby when one Wheel of the vehicular toy passes over an irregularity, the axle of said one wheel can rock within its groove relative to said body, said protuberance extending longitudinally of its corresponding groove and being narrow as compared wtih the periphery of said groove.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,027,049 Levy Ian. 7, 1936 2,510,310 Francis June 6, 1950 2,786,305 Carter Mar. 26, 1957 2,838,875 Hammond et al June 17, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 601,637 Great Britain May 10, 1948 

